Automatic antenna regulator



Sept. 11, 1928. 1,684,261

W. W. BROWN AUTOMATIC ANTENNA REGULATOR Filed Dec. 29, 1925 Inventor:Wil Ham W.B

His Attorney.

Patented Sept. 11,1928.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM W'. BROWN,

OF SGHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC ANTENNA REGULATOR.

Application filed December 29, 1925. Serial No. 78,202.

My present invention relates to means for regulating the resonant wavelength of an antenna system.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, reliable andquick-acting means whereby the desired relation between capacitive andinductive reactances of an antenna system may be automaticallymaintained.

In carrying my invention into effect, I associate with the antenna to becontrolled, a magnetic amplifier or controller of the type described inthe Letters Patent of the United States to James C- Armor, No.1,219,215, while the particular form of the controller which may be usedmay be of the type described at length in Letters Patent 1f the UnitedStates to Ernst F. IV. Alexander-son, No. 1,328,797. The variation ofmagnetization of the amplifiervaries the inductive reactance of theantenna circuit.

The magnetization ofthe amplifier in the present instance is controlledby means of a pair of electric discharge devices which sup- 7 plymagnetizing current to a pair of clifferentially related windings on themagnetic amplifier. Included in the output circuit of each device is awinding adapted tobe supplied with an electromotive force having adefinite phase relation with the antenna current. The control members ofthe discharge devices are connected to a source of electromotive, forcehaving a definite phase relation with the electromotive force suppliedto the antenna.

The phase relation of the electromotive forces supplied to the input andoutput cir cuits of the discharge devices are so related that, normally,pulsating current will be supplied equally from the two devices to eachof the differentially related windings of the magnetic amplifier, sothat themagnetization of the amplifier will be maintained substantiallyconstant. lVhen the capacity reactance of the antenna changes, however,one of the devices will supply current to oneof the difierentialwindings for a longer period of time than the other device willsupply-current to the other differential winding, with the result thatthe degree of magnetization of the magnetic amplifier will be increasedor decreased, producing thereby a corresponding change in the inductivereactance of the antenna circuit which will restore the desiredrelatlons between the capacltlve and inductive reactances. i

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention,itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operationwill best be understoodby reference to the following specification takenin connection with the accompanying drawing in which the single figureshows diagrammatically a circuit organizationwhereby my invention 1 maybe carried into effect. 7

Referring to the drawing, I have indicated at 1" well-known type of highfrequency inductor alternator, having a plurality of stationary armaturewindings 2, i

tively related to a pair of secondary transformer windings 10 and 11.

A magnetic amplifier 12 is employed to control the tuning of the antennasystem. The amplifier, or saturated core regulator, includes the usualhigh frequency windings 13, connected throughcondensers 14 and 15 to thesecondary winding 16 of a transformer 17 and a regulating winding 18.

The primary winding 19 of the transformer 17 is connected in shuntwiththe secondary winding of transformer 5 and axportion of inductance 7..The regulating winding 18 is supplied with current from a direct currentsource of energy 20 through a variable controlling resistor 21.Variations in the magnetization of the amplifier produce correspondingvariations in the inductance-of the circuit including the secondarytransformer winding 16, and," therefore, through transformer 17 in theinductance oflthe antenna circuit. Normally, the source of energy 20supplies an amount of current to the regulating coil 18 which willmaintain 5 forces supplied to the two grids will differ thetwo dischargedevices.

pair of condensers 27 and 28. Without the resistors or condensers theelectromotive in phase by 180. The use of the resistors and condensers,however, provides means whereby the phase relation of the electromotiveforces supplied to the grids of the two tubes may be varied as desired.I have found that the operation of the alternator 1 ismore stable if theantenna is kept tuned to a frequency slightly higher than that generatedby the alternator. This condition may be maintained by the followingarrangement: I

The plate circuit of the electric discharge device 25 is connected incircuit with the secondary transformer winding 10, while the platecircuit of electric discharge de vice 24 is connected in circuit withthe wind- :ing 11. lVindings 10 and 11 are connected forces supplied tothe two plates are equal and in phase. Due to the transformer con-'nection shown, the phase of the electromotive forces supplied to theplates would, in the absence of resistor 26 and condensers 27 and 28, bein quadrature with the electromotive forces supplied to the grids ofThis relation is changed, however, on account of the pres ence of theresistance element 26 and capacity units 27 and 28. The electromotiveforce supplied to the plates is, however,normally displaced in phaseequally from the electromotive forces supplied to the gridsof dischargedevices 24 and 25. i

Condensers 29 and 30, which are associated with discharge devices 24 and25, smooth out the direct current impulses and tend'to maintain thecurrent supplied to the differential windings 22 and 23 substantiallyconstant. Thesejcondensers also actas bypasses for radio frequencycurrents. I In operation, when the electromotive force of the highfrequency alternator and the current in the antenna are in tune, currentwill be supplied equally from the discharge devices 24 and 25to thedifferentially related windings 22 and 23 of the magnetic amplifier sothat no change will occur in .t-he resultant energization of themagnetic amplifier. When there is a change, however, in the capacity ofthe antenna, the phase relation of the electromotive forces supplied tothe plates and grids is varied so that current will flow through onedischarge device for a longer period than it will flow through theother. The current flowing through one of the differentially relatedwindings 22 and 23 will, therefore, persist for a longer period of timethan the current which flows through the other winding. This will resulteither in a decrease or increase in themagnetization of thesaturated'coil regulator 12, depending. on'the nature of 'the changewhich has occurred in the antenna capacity. Variations in the impedanceof the circuit including winding 16, produces a variation in the antennacircuit inductive reactance, and thereby re stores the tuning of theantenna to normal. Variations in the capacity of the antenna produce asubstantially instantaneous .response .lIl themagnetic amplifier so thatsub- 1. In combination, an'antennsnmeans for maintaining the tuning ofthe antenna substantially constant, said' means including a saturatedcore regulator and meansfor energizing said regulator in response tovariations in said antenna tuning.

2. In combinatioman antenna, means for maintaining the tuning of theantenna substantially constant, said means including a saturated coreregulator, and means including an electric discharge device operableresponsively to changes in the tuning of said antenna for controllingthe energization of said regulator. 1

3. In combination, an antenna, means for automatically controlling thetuning of the antenna, said means including a saturated core regulator,a plurality of related windings associated with said regulator, and

means including a plurality of electric dis- I charge devices fordifferently) energizing said windings. I

4. In combination, an antenna, means including a magnetic amplifier formaintaining the tuning of theantenna substantially constant, and meanscontrolled by variations if in the capacity of the antenna forcontrolling the operation of the magnetic amplifier. 5. In combination,anantenna, a saturated core regulator associated therewith, meansincluding a plurality of differentially related windings for controllingthe energize.-

tion of said regulator, and means for varying the energization of saiddifferentially related windings in accordance with variations inthecapacity of the antenna. r

6. In combination, an antenna, a saturated core regulator associatedtherewith, means including a plurality of differentially relatedwindings for controlling the energization of said regulator, and meansincluding an electric discharge device for varying the energization ofthe differentially related windings in accordance with variations in thecapacity of the antenna.

7. In combination, an antenna, a saturated core regulator associatedtherewith, and means including an electron discharge clevice controlledby variations in the capacity of the antenna for varying themagnetization of the regulator.

8. In combination, an antenna, a saturated core regulator associatedtherewith, and means controlled by variations in the tuning of theantenna for varying the magnetization of the regulator, said meansincluding a plurality of differentially related electric dischargedevices.

9. In combination, an antenna, a saturated core regulator associatedtherewith, a pair of differentially related windings mounted on saidregulator, and means con trolled by variations in the tuning of saidantenna for controlling the energization of said differentially relatedwindings.

10. In combination, an antenna, a saturated core regulator associatedtherewith, a pair of differentially related winds ings mounted on saidregulator, and means including an electron discharge device controlledby variations in the tuning of said antenna for controlling theenergization of said differentially related windings.

11. In combination, an antenna, a saturated core regulator connectedtherewith, a winding cooperating with said regulator, and meanscontrolled by variations in the tuning of the antenna for varying theenergization of said winding.

12. In combinatlon, an antenna, a saturated core regulator associatedtherewith,

13. In combination, an antenna, means whereby high frequency current maybe supplied to the antenna, a magnetic amplifier associated with theantenna, a pair of electric discharge devices, each of said devicesincluding an anode, a cathode and a grid, means for supplyingelectromotive forces having a substantially constant frequency to thegrid elements of the discharge devices, means for supplyingvto theanodes an electromotive force having a phase relation to the gridelectromotive forces which varies-with variations in the capacity of theantenna and connections between said magnetic amplifier and saiddischarge devices whereby the energization of said magnetic amplifiermay be controlled in accordance with variations in the capacity of theantenna.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day ofDecember, 1925.

' IVILLIAM W. BROVN.'

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

-Patent. No 1,684, 261. Granted September 1-1,--192e, m

WILLIAM W. BROWN.

' It is hereby certified that error.appears in. the printedspecification oi tthe above numbered patent .r-equiringcorrection asfollows: Page 2, lihe j1l2, pl-aim w i 3', for the word "diffei ently"read difierentially; and111M111]?$8'id LQjZI8IS "I fPit en't shouldbe-readwith-thiscorrection therein that the same-may c o iorm i t'o'therecord ofthe-cas'e in-the Patent-Office.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of November, A. D. 192 8.

M. J.- Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

